French Ambassador discusses European Union, French policy, presents award

The standing-room only crowd filling the Law School's Moot Court Room last night was both insistent and impatient. As students and faculty packed the small auditorium, whispers of anticipation hummed through the air. But as Kumble R. Subbaswamy, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, stepped up to the podium, the dull hum of conversation immediately ceased.\nSubbaswamy welcomed the crowd and introduced French ambassador Francois Bujon de l'Estang to the crowd to give his address, "The State of the European Union and the Priorities of the French Presidency." \nAs he spoke, de l'Estang began outlining the difficulties facing France as the country struggles to leave its legacy on the European Union presidency, a position France will hold until the end of this calendar year.\nHe said the first challenge involves the rapid enlargement of the European Union. As the membership in the Union becomes increasingly seductive, promising single, stable markets and increased exports, more and more developing democracies have begun to seek inclusion, he said. He also said chief among these countries are former members of the Soviet Eastern bloc, lured by the presence of the Eastern Union's Common Market and peacekeeping efforts.\nDe l\'Estang stressed the crucial goal of "integrating in a larger dimension." That is, providing economic security and satisfaction to both corporate enterprises and the private citizenry. Touting the EU's common currency, the euro, as "revolutionary," the ambassador emphasized the growth possibilities emanating from such standardization. \nWhile the value of the euro in American dollars has slipped substantially since its inception, de l'Estang dismissed the circumstances as the product of disparity between French and American economics.\n"(The incident) is not necessarily a bad thing, as it helps French exports and reflects the good health of the American economy," the ambassador said. Denouncing the decline as "an irrational phenomena not reflective of actual economic circumstances," de l'Estang promoted the global need to allow for gradual maturation of the currency system.\nThe diplomat also addressed the establishment of a real European defense as an immediate EU aim. Only through the mobilization of an effective military force can institutional reform of the Union occur, he said. The EU must then, in turn, establish a concrete foreign policy "able to project reaction forces on a crisis theatre."\nFollowing the hour-long lecture was a presentation of France's highest-ranking academic award, the Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques, by de l'Estang to Rudy Professor of French and Linguistics Albert Valdman. Valdman was honored with this distinction following 40 years of research and study of French dialects in America, including Pidgin and Creole.\nValdman received the award to a standing ovation, with faculty members filling the first few rows. "Dr. Valdman is one of the most inspirational and compassionate people on the faculty," French department head AI Tammy Berberri said. "It is such an honor working with him." \nGraduate student Margaret Dempster concurred, adding that Valdman is "very passionate" about his work and well-deserving of such distinction.\nThe program was well-received by students and faculty. \n"I think it is important to notice that the visit of the French Ambassador to Bloomington comes at a crucial moment when France and the United States are committed to strengthen their cultural and scientific ties by concrete measures and exchange programs," Associate Professor of French and Italian Jacques Merceron said. "In that respect, person-to-person contacts are invaluable and irreplaceable. Although I realize that there can't be an immediate effect between such a visit and such programs … I really hope that the increased visibility of the French cultural and scientific presence in the U.S. will in the long run benefit us in a broad sense"